[Ian quotes dmb]
> Let me start with this one line of yours ...
> "Social level communication is more like the use of
> symbols in
> conventional and habitual ways."
[Ian]
> So both social and intellectual levels involve
> communication and some
> form of language / manipulation of symbols ...
> symbols that represent ... something.
> Let me suggest, that at the social level the
> symbolic representations
> are as you say, by habit and convention, and perhaps
> by convention
> managed / encouraged / established by authority ?
Ian, social level is a social activity. I agree
with you that on the social level authority is
present, but if somebody is intellectualizing well on
a particular day and the clarity is present to help
sort through a particular understanding, therefore,
the intellectual level does have a measure of
authority over the social level, social over
biological, etc... Arlo puts the distinction between
social and intellectual well I believe. We can each
intellectualize, thus, manipulate symbols and notice
that the intellectual level is involved. Also, 'we'
can be doing this, and share our 'manipulations' with
each other and now we are socializing. This does not
mean that the intellectual level is the individual
level. We've been down that trapped path before. The
intellectual level does emerge from the social level,
and yes, individuals are involved in their unique
ways. What we are intellectualizing/manipulating on
the intellectual level is coming from the social
level. The intellectual level is creative and
distinction from the social level due to the
'manipulating' aspect. We can manipulate/change/shape
the social level patterns. Also, this kind of
distinction of the intellectual level from the social
level does allow for the emergence of a democracy,
uniqueness, and creativity. We can each socialize
what we mean to the point that the intellectual is
embedded in the social level. I would say that the
hardened, habit forms in which dmb was referring to is
culture and culture is on the social level. Culture
provides expectations. Sure I could think of how this
culture allows for certain unique intellectual
patterns, but that's just defining how the
intellectual level emerges from the social level. The
intellectual level has dynamic quality involvement.
We could sit here all day and try to formalize a
hardened definition of what intellect is or social
level is, etc... but as Pirsig said we can all see
what intellect is when we are reading his books,
that's the same as saying 'we all know what quality
is'.
woods,
SA
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